On Sunday, NFIB/Texas teamed up with the Capital One Spark Small Business House at SXSW to present a panel on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs featuring the Governor’s Commission for Women, Texas Wide Open for Business the Governor’s Economic Development Division, and Karla Palma owner of Eventslice—an online platform showcasing unique event venues and professionals.
The purpose of this panel was simple, to have honest conversations about the current national challenges and successes of women entrepreneurs, the exclusive resources the Lone Star State provides to these business pioneers, and the “secret sauce” of success for starting and growing a business in Texas that can be applied to businesses anywhere. LaChristian Taylor, executive director for the Governor’s Commission for Women, stated the importance of mentorship and educational resources as key ingredients for women in business. Brad Napp, small business advocate for Texas Wide Open for Business, talked about the state’s focus on the tech industry and his department’s provision of resources from starting a business to growing it with incentives and financing. Palma rounded out the panel as the voice of small business in the tech industry (she also happens to be a California transplant) and provided insight on the daily grind and facets that may be overlooked in the planning to launch phase of a business.
Overall, Texas is one of the healthiest states in the nation for small business. Because of our recent tax relief and regulatory environment, the state is poised for continued economic growth. Governor Abbott has placed focus and emphasis on small business resources through the Governor’s Commission for Women and Texas Wide Open for Business. He furthered his commitment to small business protection and growth by announcing last year at the NFIB/Texas Small Business Day at the Capitol event his plans to make Texas number one for women-owned business and calling for the elimination of the franchise tax. There is still more work to be done as federal regulatory overreach is at an all time high and hundreds of bills were filed last session (that we helped kill) attempting to mandate employee/employer relationships, minimum wage hikes, and unlawful employment practices. As Napp pointed out in the panel this is why NFIB/Texas is in the small business corner, to kill bad bills and support good legislation that empowers Texas independent businesses.
